Chinese authorities have seized more than 1 million yuan ($149,000) worth of illegally copied software in raids on three websites that were illegally selling and distributing pirated software, according to the software industry alliance BSA | The Software Alliance.
The raids, which were backed by the local police, targeted websites in the provinces of Guangdong, Shandong, and Jiangsu, BSA said in a press release Wednesday.
The operation was part of an ongoing campaign by Chinese authorities to crack down on software piracy. In 2018, the Chinese government launched a three-year campaign to reduce software piracy by 10 percent.
BSA said that the raids were conducted after months of investigation by its members, who identified the websites as being involved in the illegal sale and distribution of pirated software.
“BSA applauds the Chinese authorities for their continued efforts to combat software piracy,” said BSA’s Senior Director of Compliance for the Asia-Pacific region, Tarun Sawney, in a statement. “These raids send a clear message that software piracy will not be tolerated in China.”
BSA said that the software seized in the raids included a variety of titles, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Photoshop. The software was being sold for a fraction of the price of the genuine versions.
Software piracy is a major problem in China, with an estimated 70 percent of all software in the country being pirated. This costs software companies billions of dollars in lost revenue each year.
BSA has been working with the Chinese government for many years to combat software piracy. The organization provides training and support to law enforcement agencies and prosecutes cases of software piracy.
“BSA is committed to working with the Chinese government and industry partners to reduce software piracy in China,” said Sawney. “We believe that these raids are an important step in that direction.”.
